Just wanted to say that I loved your characterization of Jane's motives. His inner thoughts are truly complicated

Really great introspective writing... very lyrical.

Thank you

Excellent study/explanation of Jane and Lisbon's early relationship.

"It's not perfect (it's excruciating) but he can't move in any direction, not without making things worse."

Yes, Jane is 'stuck' in so many ways, unable to grieve, unable to develop, unable to move on until RJ is dead.

Cliffys hate them but thanks for the read

A really nice piece. I think you really nailed Jane in this one. He is drawn to Lisbon but there's simply no room for anything other than revenge.

Fine job delineating just how precarious their uneasy balance is, how hard it is to maintain any balance at all. Excellent!

This is very nice - very good character study, successful in my opinion!

Really liked this. I think you did a great job and I hope to read more from you soon!

Really liked it!

Wow, this was perfect! I kept waiting for you to make a misstep, but you kept just the right balance of insight and inference, of character study and dissociation (especially in the early stages of Jane's integration into the CBI and Lisbon's team). I think this is a really good take on Jane's relationship, his motivation in his interaction with Lisbon and with her team. Well done!

Good character interoretation. I indeed am going to think about that furthermore.

Your story is intelligent and mature, something I can picture in a workplace. The attraction and the not giving in are well described. I would have wish, but I do not know how, that something else than an assault would disclose Jane's facade. It's to much of a stereotype but then again, I'm grateful it was not the usual melodramatic. Just an incident, a little thing, that was brilliant.

I like this alternate character interpretation for why he can act so juvenile . . . the other option being that he's just kind of juvenile! She would do better to keep him at arm's length anyway, if you ask me.

Good job, I enjoyed it!

very nice! I think you capture Jane's motivations incredibly well and I like your take on why he irritates the hell out of Lisbon. It would make perfect sense and I find it very realistic that she has absolutely no clue how vulnerable he is to her. As much as this season so far has annoyed me in terms of their relationship, this scenario is still very possible (if season 2 Jane doesn't continue to be a self-serving jerk) and I can definitely see this developing further, because he can't teeter on the edge of oblivious forever...right?

I'd like to see a sequel or maybe Lisbon's take on all this, but if it's all you give then I'm happy with it too, because it was seriously one good, well thought out piece of writing...very introspective...me like :)

Yana

I sit here and wonder, self deprecatingly, how I missed this wonderful piece while perusing the Mentalist archives. Because you have an absolutely brilliant way of capturing the introspection of a certain consultant in his musings of a certain senior agent.

Your thesis of the fact that Jane irritates and embarrasses Lisbon as being a form of protection against her getting too far "in" was summed up and woven into an awesome piece. And I heartily agree with your theory.

I especially love your set-up scene that throws us into the introspection: Lisbon saving his ass and getting hurt. So much description and flowing alliteration that I feel like I'm watching an episode. Perfect characterizations of Jane thinking about all his former teams before Team Lisbon, too. "Sterny"- HA!

And then the reveal of her injury to Jane, while they both fight the rip-tide of emotions, I love that you had Jane back off. Because he isn't ready and Lisbon understands. I think that's what I love most about your story: you painted Lisbon and Jane's dynamic in one of the most convincing, in-canon, deliciously tempting and poignant ways I've seen on this site. I'd never thought of the vest and coat as Jane's personal coat of arms, to set him apart from the team's uniform of stolid suites, guns and badges - but thank you for giving me that great image.

I love Jane and Lisbon to an unhealthy degree, but most of the stories revolve around more romance and fluff, than the wonderful dance the two of them share. Plus, I'm an angst whore, unabashedly so. So this story is being added to my favorites and I plan on pimping it out to my fellow Mentalist lovers.

So so very impressive. Off I go to surf more of your works! Bravo!

Fascinating. I liked seeing how a past incident could bring this all up to the surface. Jane was fun to read about.

Til later readings